John Tartaglia

John Tartaglia has been puppeteering since age seven and has no plans to stop anytime soon! John’s dream of someday working for the Jim Henson Company came true when he was hired at age sixteen, making him one of the youngest “Muppeteers” in history. John puppeteered on Sesame Street for 12 seasons before leaving to make his Broadway debut as Princeton and Rod in Avenue Q, earning him a TONY nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.

He then had the great honor of creating and starring in Disney’s Johnny and the Sprites for which he was nominated for an EMMY as Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Show (and which was nominated for several other categories including Outstanding Children’s Series).

John also performed as Pinocchio, the live real-time motion capture Magic Mirror, and the larger than life Dragon puppet in Shrek the Musical on Broadway, having previously performed on Broadway as Lumiere in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Other notable television appearances include Ugly Betty, Tingo on Sesame English (an ESL series airing worldwide), Bear in the Big Blue House, DJ2 on Discovery Channel’s Animal Jam, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, Dog City, Play With Me Sesame, Blue’s Room, and several Sesame Street and Muppet home videos and commercials. He’ll make his feature film debut with the upcoming release of Hotel Arthritis.

John’s newest project, a glow in the dark musical for families called ImaginOcean, is currently being developed for television, playing an international tour, and can be seen on several Royal Caribbean cruise ships, following a successful run Off Broadway. John recently created, hosted, and directed Jim Henson’s Musical World, which enjoyed sold out performances at Carnegie Hall. He also currently serves as Resident Director of the original production of Avenue Q, now playing at New World Stages. Next, he’ll be directing the Broadway bound production of the acclaimed children’s novel Because of Winn-Dixie and returning to Shrek the Musical, this time as director, at the St. Louis MUNY.

John began teaching workshops and master classes in 2005, and feels honored to have a part in continuing to spread the art form that changed his life and inspires him every day.

Daniel Seth

Daniel Seth was raised on the Muppets, and is excited to have the opportunity to return to his love of puppetry through the intensive! He has worked with puppets on several shows, including John Tartaglia’s ImaginOcean, Avenue Q, and the world premiere stage production of Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. Recently, he worked as Associate Director of Jim Henson’s Musical World, which enjoyed acclaimed sold out performances with the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. In New York, some of the other productions and workshops Daniel has directed, assisted, or consulted on include The Book of Mormon, Dog Sees God, Sleep No More, Jerry Springer: The Opera, Family Guy Sings!, Saved, Zanna Don’t, Rated RSO, This Game For Two, and How The Great Grapefruit Danced in the Moonlight. TV/Film work includes multiple features, seasons ten and eleven of American Idol, Eros, and The Battery’s Down. Beyond the intensive, Daniel has taught as an Educator at the Museum of the Moving Image, and offers private audition and acting coaching. Additionally, you may have seen Daniel as a green dot on your television during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where he proudly serves as a balloon handler for Kermit the Frog.